Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-18
JUDGE CRAWFORD.
THE CAREER OF A BRILLIANT swINDL8R
RECALLED.
The Way Charleston Was Done Up fvo Ysan
Ago Recalled BY he Lshr Exploits
Of the Same Nan N
Georgia Town.

1
Numbers Of our readers will doahtless
recall the name Of Judge Crawford in con-
nection with q polished and plausible
stranger who suddenly shot into TIE midst
Of the Capital City Of Charleston, some two
years ago, like q meteor, and who four
ished there for brief season - IN orator,
6nancier and general good fellow, whose
presence was big thing for the town and
whom IL was an honor to know. The
Judge, who originally came from no one
knows where, leased fine mansion just
outside the corporate limits Of the town.
soon after his arrival, got up . spanking
team Of flyers, furnished his house In .
luxurious fashion, and altogether wss
quite dazzling and important parsonage.
He was accompanied by two women, who
be styled his sisters, and the three
were courted by>a large proportion Of
the community. On the occasion Of the
Gmnt memorial exercises be delivered IN
Grafton which caused q great sensation,
and was highly spoken of by oil. In
short time the Judge sprung o financial
scheme Of size upon the dazed Charles.
tonians, and under cover of the excitement
which ensued managed TO disappear with
several thousand dollars in cash entrusted
to him by folks who thought him VERT.
able Napoleon OF finance. The Judge
dropped 80 completely out Of sight ~ TO
have been iorgotton, but the news Of his
duplication Of the Charleston racket upon
the couiiding citizens Of Giffin, Ca, has
recalled him to mind.
Judge Crawford, sailing under the
name of H. d. Wood, and claiming
abiding place, dropped into Giffiin
in February, 1856. Mr.. Wood soon
began 10 make the acquaintance Of tho
people and impressed all iavorably. He
showed clearly that he was man Of extra
ordinary intelligence, well read, and .
man who had seen much Of the world. He
expressed himself 40 pleased and delighted
with the climate that he decided 10 make
the town his permanent home. He WAS
elected member of the Grantland club,
and was soon the leading society man Of
Griffin. The impression was made that
he was very rich; he WAS lavish with his
money, discussed improvements Of differ
ent kinds with the moneyed men. and eI-
pressed willingness and desire TO put
his money in sound enterprises.
When spring came he purchased one Of
the handsomest turnouts that ever rolled
through the streets Of Griffin, and the
man or woman who was fortunate enough
to ride out with Major Wood, a. he WAS
now called, was considered favored
one, and WAS looked upon with envy by
the less fortunate ones. Major Wood
WAS now the pett6d fayorite OF NJ
ciety. No tea or dinner was complete with
ont the presence OF this brilliant and enter
tanning son Of favoritism. lie verify lived
the life of lord. He had his servants Who
went and came at his beck aud call he had
the freedom of the city, and was received
aud welcomed wherever he called. His
star was NJ the zenith Of its glory, aud he
hoated gracefully and quietly Oh the wave
of public favor. The Fourth OF July came
and the SpsldiDg Greys gave n barbecue,
and Major Wood delivered splendid ora
tion. The result was that the Greys elected
MIN captain, and In turn the Captain gAvs
the company and some friends bang-up
banquet
On August 3lst the Major married the
daughter of one Of the wealthiest citizens,
and the couple Immediately took the north
bound train for an extensive trip thnugh
spent in Atlanta. The father Of the bride
had given her as q wedding present 6veos
six hundred acres of the most valuable land
in the county lying broadside of the city and
almost entirely in native growth woods,
valued at from $40 TO $50 per acre. While
spending the day In Atlanta, Captain Wood
mortgaged this land 10 the Corbin Bank
ing company, for twelve hundred and 6fty
dollars. When the papers were sent on
to be recorded, and became public news,
the eyes Of the GriHinites popped with snr-
prise and astJnishment, and nm investigs.
tion resulted in the discovery Of o good
many queer things, one Of them being The
getting Of note from lady by repre-.
-enting that be aud two mopied men we're
spon 10 start bank and she could put this
note. which was on a firm there, in a. that
much stock After obtaining the mote
and got about seventeen hundred and
Gfty dollars on IL. During this time
Captain Wood was having erected on
Smith Hill street q beautiful bouss on
Que of the finest four-acre lots In Griffin;
the grounds were being elsbofately graded
and terraced, the house being built In the
latest style, private water and gas works
we're being put in, and the score Of work
men were busy finishing the place Tor the
reception Of Captain Wood and his bride
ON their Teturn from their bridal tour
through the old world. Tbs tour VS.
made in the very best style, y colosed valet
was carried at the expense Of Bfty dollsn .
month, the very best that Europe could
afford was not above the elegant tastaof
tbe newly welded pair. and 10 them tbeir
tour was happy honeymoon, igrossnt
and innocent Of tbe change rapidly taking
place in the public mind at homo in refer
eDce 10 the bridegroom.
In November the bridal pair retarped
home, but Wood was spubbed right and
left. lie partially strmmed the tide,
however. and last May be an
DouDced through the press that be bsd Of
ganized hank, 70 b. known - the "Mss-
chants National Bank" with capital q
600, ,OC0-that $50, 600 had been put sp
by Bneton syndicate and 80, GO by mOs-
eyed men there; that all the stock bsd hem
taken and no takers need apply. He pro.
cured building and begsB 10 h.se the
same put in condition on styls thzt msdS
people wonder. The fnest and most sish-
orats furniture and fixtures were oedsrpd;
the buildiDg wss 70 be renovated from top
to bottom, sDd as he said, 1T would bs
the handsoInest banking house In Geosyia."
During the preparation Wood weot 70 tbs
president ola private banking es4ablisb.
I0snt here, snd in the nost susvs masnr
offered To buy his haak. The hankss I'D
be would sell, and ssid he ssked S75,0uo
for the concern. bat hnAly withdrew his
proposition.
Wood continued pepssssioes fW ~
hank. About the frst 0f Jnpe - went -
two gentlemen who were 70 he tAess u
the bank and got $4,000 froa sseh a
them, psomisiog 10 issue stock f0 IL
same. To one of tbess gsntisnea - Oss
. receipt; 70 the other be did nes 6sU